Gaillardia plant named ‘Sunset Sunrise’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Gaillardia  named ‘Sunset Sunrise’ that is distinguishable by a long blooming period, compact low-growing habit and large inflorescences which are vibrant yellow in color, with an orange-red inner ring and a central orange disc, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Gaillardia×grandiflora.

Variety denomination: ‘Sunset Sunrise’.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Gaillardia plant, also known as a blanket flower, a herbaceous perennial that is grown for use as an ornamental landscape and container plant. The new variety is known botanically as Gaillardia×grandiflora and will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name ‘Sunset Sunrise’. Gaillardia is in the family Compositae, under which the commonly referred to “flower” is actually the inflorescence, and made up of smaller ray florets and disc florets. The ray florets themselves have the appearance of “petals”.

‘Sunset Sunrise’ originated and was selected from a large population of hybrid seedlings from a Gaillardia breeding program which was started in 2006. The breeding program was conducted in a greenhouse nursery in West Sussex, United Kingdom. The aims of the breeding program were to produce novel combinations of flower colors and flower forms which are borne on well-branched plants with sturdy growth habits. A controlled hybridization was carried out using combinations of selected named varieties and selected unnamed and unreleased seedlings retained from previous breeding cycles.

‘Sunset Sunrise’ was selected in 2008 for its vibrant yellow inflorescences which exhibit an inner orange red ring (by virtue of the orange-red base to each ray floret) and a central orange disc. The ray florets are borne in two rows or layers and are produced from early spring until fall. ‘Sunset Sunrise’ was also selected for its compact growth habit.

The hybridization which led to the selection of ‘Sunset Sunrise’ was carried out during 2007 using the variety, Gaillardia ‘Fanfare’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,892) as the male parent and a proprietary unreleased and unnamed Gaillardia yellow seedling as the female parent.

‘Sunset Sunrise’ was first asexually propagated in September 2008 in a greenhouse at the inventors nursery in West Sussex, United Kingdom using shoot cuttings taken from lateral branches. ‘Sunset Sunrise’ is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the distinguishing characteristics of ‘Sunset Sunrise’. ‘Sunset Sunrise’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, without however, any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. ‘Sunset Sunrise’ exhibits a compact and naturally branching         plant habit;     -   2. ‘Sunset Sunrise’ exhibits single inflorescences composed of         two rows or layers of ray florets;     -   3. The ray florets of ‘Sunset Sunrise’ are predominantly yellow         in color, with an orange-red base which confers the appearance         of an orange-red ring in the inflorescence;     -   4. The disc of ‘Sunset Sunrise’ is yellow when the inflorescence         is newly opening, gradually becoming orange-red as the         inflorescence and the disk florets age;     -   5. ‘Sunset Sunrise’ blooms continually from early spring until         late fall;     -   6. After one year's growth in a 3 liter container, ‘Sunset         Sunrise’ is 35 cm to 40 cm in height and 40 cm to 45 cm in         width; and     -   7. ‘Sunset Sunrise’ is hardy in USDA zone 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Gaillardia cultivar ‘Sunset Sunrise’ showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which more accurately describes the actual colors of the new variety ‘Sunset Sunrise’.

FIG. 1 depicts a whole plant of ‘Sunset Sunrise’ which has been grown in a frost-free greenhouse in West Sussex, United Kingdom. The illustrated plant is one year old and has been grown without any pinching or chemical growth regulator.

FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the fully expanded inflorescence of ‘Sunset Sunrise’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Sunset Sunrise’. Observations, measurements, values, and comparisons were collected in August, 2014 in Santa Barbara, Calif. from a one year old plant grown outdoors in full sun in freely drained proprietary peat-based potting soil. Color determinations were made in accordance with The 2007 Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart from London England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Compositae.         -   Genus.—Gaillardia.         -   Species.—×grandiflora.         -   Common name.—Blanket flower. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Unnamed yellow seedling of Gaillardia             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Gaillardia ‘Fanfare’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.             15,892). -   Plant:     -   -   Propagation method.—Typically by softwood cuttings although             root cuttings have also been successful.         -   Rooting system.—Fine and fibrous.         -   Vigor.—Moderate vigor.         -   Time to develop roots.—14 to 20 days are needed for an             initial cutting to develop roots.         -   Temperature to develop roots.—The recommended air             temperature is 20-21° Centigrade.         -   Crop time.—Approximately 10 weeks to 2 months are needed to             produce a 15-centimeter container from a rooted cutting.         -   Growth habit.—Compact and naturally freely branching.         -   Suggested container size.—15-centimeter container.         -   Use.—Ornamental for use as a landscape plant or container             plant.         -   Type.—Herbaceous perennial.         -   Overall dimensions.—After one year's growth in a 3 liter             container: 35 cm to 40 cm in height and 40 cm to 45 cm in             width. At maturity in the ground: 40 cm to 45 cm in height             and 50 cm to 55 cm in width.         -   Cultural requirements.—Grow in full sun with moderate water,             and well-draining soil such as loam.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 5.         -   Growing requirements.—If grown outside in regions which             experience winter freezing, ‘Sunset Sunrise’ may be started             as a cutting during the spring or summer of the previous             year, planted out prior to the onset of winter, and             flowering will commence typically in May or June according             to the region and season. When grown outside in frost-free             regions, or in frost-protected greenhouses, ‘Sunset Sunrise’             will flower virtually all year round and may be started as a             cutting (which should be non-flowering) at any time of year. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—Basal branching.         -   Stem color.—138B.         -   Stem dimensions.—10 cm to 15 cm in length and 5 mm in width.         -   Stem shape.—Cylindrical, slightly fluted longitudinally.         -   Stem surface.—Markedly villous with dense coverage of very             fine silvery hairs, approximately 3 mm to 4 mm in length.         -   Internode length.—Average internode length is 10 mm to 12             mm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Type.—Evergreen.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Margin.—Entire, except basal leaves slightly dentate with             three rounded teeth, 1 mm to 3 mm in depth.         -   Leaf shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Leaf dimensions (base of plant).—20 cm to 23 cm in length,             3.5 cm in width.         -   Leaf dimensions (at inflorescence height).—8 cm to 9 cm in             length, 2 cm in width.         -   Leaf base.—Truncate.         -   Leaf apex.—Rounded.         -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.         -   Leaf color (both surfaces).—138A.         -   Leaf venation pattern.—Parallel; mid vein protrudes on both             surfaces.         -   Vein color (both surfaces).—138B.         -   Leaf surface (both surfaces).—Pubescent, very fine silvery             hairs, lighter than 156D, approximately 3 mm in length.         -   Fragrance.—A slight sage-like scent when bruised. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Inflorescence.—Solitary.         -   Aspect.—Facing upward.         -   Dimensions of inflorescence.—80 mm in diameter and 15 mm in             height.         -   Inflorescence type.—Radiate capitate with central disc.         -   Disc diameter (inflorescence fully expanded).—25 mm to 28             mm.         -   Inflorescence number per plant.—A one-year old plant bears             approximately 30 to 35 inflorescences in bud and flower at             one time.         -   Blooming season.—Spring, summer and fall.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—10 days, reducing to 7 days in             full sun in mid-summer. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Peduncle dimensions.—8 cm to 11 cm in length and 2.5 mm in             diameter.         -   Peduncle shape.—Cylindrical.         -   Peduncle surface.—Surface is pubescent and exhibits             longitudinal ridges.         -   Peduncle color.—138C.         -   Peduncle strength.—Stiff. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Bud shape.—Rotate whorl.         -   Bud dimensions (bud).—13 mm in diameter and 8 mm in height.         -   Bud color.—138B.         -   Bud surface.—Villous. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Ray floret shape.—Fan-shaped, predominantly with 3 fused             petals appearing as lobes. One or two ray florets in each             inflorescence comprised of 2 fused petals.         -   Ray floret surface (abaxial surface).—Pubescent.         -   Ray floret surface (adaxial surface).—Glabrous.         -   Ray floret color (abaxial surface).—13B throughout.         -   Ray floret color (adaxial surface).—43B extending 20 mm from             base; 17B extending 12 mm from apex.         -   Ray floret arrangement.—Radiate.         -   Number of ray florets per inflorescence.—15 to 18 ray             florets per inflorescence.         -   Number of petals per ray floret.—Three.         -   Fused or unfused.—Petals are basally fused.         -   Petal margins of ray floret.—Entire.         -   Ray floret dimensions.—32 mm in length including the corolla             tube, 16 mm in width at the widest point.         -   Corolla tube dimensions.—5 mm in depth and 1.0 mm in             diameter.         -   Ray floret veins (both surfaces).—Longitudinal, parallel,             fine but prominent; color N34A.         -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Self-cleaning. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Quantity of disc florets per inflorescence.—Numerous,             approximately 200 to 250.         -   Disc floret dimensions (including pistil length).—9 mm in             length and 2.5 mm in width.         -   Depth of disc floret corolla tube.—6 mm.         -   Surface of disc florets.—Lanate.         -   Color of disc florets (inflorescence newly opening, both             surfaces).—12A.         -   Color of disc florets (inflorescence fully expanded, both             surfaces).—N34A.         -   Phyllary.—Dimensions: 5.50 cm in diameter and 3 cm in             length. Color: 147B. Arrangement: Whorl.         -   Involucral bracts.—Number: An average of 25 per             inflorescence. Shape: Oblanceolate. Dimensions: 1.0 cm to             1.5 cm in length and 0.4 cm to 0.8 cm in width. Margin:             Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Color (both surfaces):             138B. Surface texture (both surfaces): Pubescent.         -   Fragrance of inflorescence.—Sweet fragrance. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens (present on disc florets only).—Number: Three,             adnate to inner surface of corolla tube. Dimensions: Bifid,             10 mm to 12 mm in length, exserted 8 mm to 9 mm; 0.2 mm in             width. Color: 187B. Form: Plumose. Anther: Dimensions: 0.50             mm in length and 1 mm in width. Color: 187A. Shape: Narrow             lanceolate. Pollen: Present. Quantity: Large amount. Color:             17C.         -   Pistil (present on ray florets and disc florets).—Number:             One per floret. Pistil length: 12 mm in length. Style             dimensions: 2 mm in length and 1 mm in width. Style color:             150D. Stigma: Dimensions: 8 mm in length and 1.75 mm in             width. Form: Plumose. Color: 187A. Shape: Bifurcate. Ovary:             Position: Inferior. Color: 150D. Shape: Globose. Dimensions:             1 mm in width and 2 mm in height. -   Fruit/seed set:     -   -   Number of seeds.—Small to moderate amount (ranges from 50 to             100 seeds per inflorescence).         -   Seed dimensions.—5 mm to 6 mm in length (including hairs at             apex) and 1 mm to 2 mm in diameter.         -   Seed color.—200A.         -   Seed shape.—Conical with rounded base and apex.         -   Seed surface.—Smooth except at the apex where many very fine             silver hairs, up to 2 mm in length, are present in circular             groups. -   Disease and pest susceptibility: ‘Sunset Sunrise’ has not been     observed to exhibit any resistance to any particular pest or     disease. ‘Sunset Sunrise’ is susceptible to downy mildew and to     thrips as may be typical of Gaillardia.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘Sunset Sunrise’ is distinguishable from the female parent, unnamed and unreleased Gaillardia yellow seedling as follows: The flowers of ‘Sunset Sunrise’ are vibrant orange-yellow in color, whereas the flowers of the female parent are entirely yellow in color. ‘Sunset Sunrise’ exhibits a more compact growth habit and lighter gray-green foliage than the female parent.

‘Sunset Sunrise’ is distinguishable from the male parent, Gaillardia ‘Fanfare’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,892) as follows: Whereas the male parent bears flowers with tubular ray florets, the flowers of ‘Sunset Sunrise’ consist of two rows of flat ray florets. Additionally ‘Sunset Sunrise’ is more floriferous than the male parent and the growth habit is less vigorous.

The variety of Gaillardia which is considered to most closely resemble ‘Sunset Sunrise’ is ‘Oranges and Lemons’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,092). The flowers of ‘Oranges and Lemons’ are smaller in size than ‘Sunset Sunrise’. Additionally, the flowers of ‘Sunset Sunrise’ are longer lasting than those of ‘Oranges and Lemons’. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Gaillardia plant named ‘Sunset Sunrise’ as described and illustrated herein. 